BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — Florida residents should begin feeling the effects of Hurricane Irma beginning this weekend. AAA urges all Florida residents to finalize their storm preparations and to review their hurricane plans now.

According to a recent AAA Consumer Pulse survey, three in four (77%) residents made advanced preparations for hurricane season – a 17 percent increase over last year.

The same study also found if a named storm were to cause evacuation warnings, one- fifth (18%) of Floridians would not leave their homes. However, of those who would evacuate, more than half (58%) say they would only leave for a category three hurricane or greater.

Take inventory of the supplies you gathered at the beginning of the hurricane season. Use your checklist to identify any missing items that need to be replaced.

Monitor radio and TV news, as you may be asked to evacuate immediately. If you lose power, switch to a battery-powered radio and have flashlights ready. Be sure to stock up on extra batteries just for storm season and keep them in your emergency kit.

Fuel your car in case of evacuation. Check fluids and get a cell phone charger for the vehicle. If you’re not taking your car, park it in a garage or on high ground where there are no trees.

Get cash, food, snacks and games. Remember, banks will be closed during the storm. If there is a loss of electricity, ATMs will be inoperable. It may be a while until the storm passes. Have some packaged snacks, such as granola, peanut butter and bread, on hand to feed the family as you wait out the storm. Family games also help pass the time and occupy small children.

Freeze some of your bottled water supply. Be sure to have coolers available in case of a power outage. Place the frozen water bottles in the cooler and then move food into it. The cooler should keep the food fresh for several extra hours.

Keep a bag with all essentials packed and ready to go in case you’re evacuated. Make sure you have clothing, medicine, etc. Make sure all your important documents are secured in waterproof containers. Also, be sure to have everything ready for your pet in case you’re evacuated.

Take Inventory for Insurance – Take pictures inside your home or walk through your home with a video camera or smart phone. Gather receipts or a log of large purchases, include the price, when purchased and model and serial numbers as available. This will help should you need to file an insurance claim due to storm damage. Be aware that flood insurance in not typically covered under your homeowners policy. Flooding to your automobile is available under the Physical Damage coverage.

Pack Important Documents – It’s important to gather records such as birth certificates, Social Security cards, mortgage documents, medical records, insurance documents, etc. Make sure these documents are in a safe place that’s easily accessible should a storm arise.